Connecticut quarterback Phommachanh eager to prove he can help Clemson football

There is a scenario where Clemson could leapfrog the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff rankings, even if both teams stay undefeated.
Manie Robinson and Scott Keepfer, The Greenville News

Taisun Phommanchanh, ranked by 247.com as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the country, attends Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut.(Photo: John Torsiello)

For Connecticut native Taisun Phommachanh, playing football at Clemson University will be more than a golden opportunity to showcase his athletic talents. It also will be about emotionally validating his and other Northeast high schoolers right to be thought of as equals of those coming out of football hotbeds in the South and West.

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound senior quarterback for Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut, has been ranked the No. 3 dual threat quarterback prospect by 247.com.

“I want to show people what players from Connecticut can do,” Taisun said recently. “I think we get overlooked against players from Florida, Texas, South Carolina and other Southern states when it comes to college recruiting. Maybe some people think we aren’t good enough. But we are, and I want to have an impact at Clemson.

"I don’t have any thoughts about what my role will be or how I will do at Clemson. I’m just going to go and compete as hard as I can, just like I do every day.”

After passing for more than 4,000 yards with 50 touchdowns in two seasons at Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Phommachanh transferred to Avon Old Farms and has smashed records at the private school. He runs a 4.54 40-yard dash and rushed for 13 touchdowns as a junior. But he’s a throw-first, run-second quarterback who passed for 2,402 yards with 26 touchdowns and just one interception in 2017 and was targeted by Clemson. This year he has led Avon Old Farms to a 7-1 record.

Taisun Phommachanh watches the Spring game in Memorial Stadium in Clemson on Saturday, April 14, 2018.(Photo: Ken Ruinard/staff)

Phommachanh, who hopes to enter Clemson in early 2019 after he finishes classes at Avon Old Farms later this fall, followed in his father Sam’s footsteps as a quarterback. The elder Phommachanh played the position for Warren Harding from 1988 to 1990.

“My dad has taught me everything about football and being a quarterback. He still plays in flag football leagues," Phommachanh said. "We always talk about football and the right way and wrong way to do things on and off the field. He has been an important teacher to me and he attends all of my games.”

On choosing to attend Clemson, he said "the atmosphere at Clemson is amazing."

"I believe it was the place I needed to go to be the best player and person I can be," he said. "The team has a lot of fun. But when it comes time to flip the switch and get serious, they can do that. I’m going to go there and compete as hard as I can.”

Having a chip on his broad shoulders concerning where he grew up and played will likely serve Phommachanh well when he gets to the college football big leagues, where the stands are filled with tens of thousands of spectators as opposed to hundreds at Avon Old Farms.